Opinion: The professional pathway can be cruel in quest to make the grade

To break into the pathways and professional club academies has become really tough because the individual has to display something really special, irrespective of the position they aspire to develop in.

In Ireland, the Province’s have their academies and on the whole in recent years have proven successful in identifying key talent emerging - it has been reflected in the National team’s success at both senior and Under-20 level recently.

There is no doubt Leinster have the blueprint, the Province having an endless conveyor belt of young stars coming through.

The comparison is made to the other academies, which is unfair. Leinster benefit hugely from having the capital city of Ireland. They have access to 50 per cent of the population and it is where the economic heartbeat of the country is.

It is those sorts of resources which are a massive advantage to the Province.

They also have another huge asset in Stuart Lancaster, the former England coach, who is on the coaching staff in Dublin and takes an interest in all levels of the game.

He makes a massive contribution and his influence on the elite coaching staff and the players is huge. It is a quality environment to work in, particularly for the young sponges coming into the system.

The Ulster Academy has had its critics in the past - and still today in some quarters - but most of that has been because of Leinster’s success. It is an unfair comparison to level at the doors of Kingspan Stadium, because it is simply incomparable.

Things do come in cycles and there is planning done well in advance as players are brought in and out of the Academies.

If you look at Ulster, last year nine players were promoted from the Academy, and that is an indication that the path is a success.

But it is going to get tougher and tougher as the demands are greater. The IRFU ultimately have the final say on if players get into the Academy to start with - it is their investment afterall. The governing body has to think of the National side as well as wanting to have four competitive Provinces in the respective competitions.

And in making that grade, the young players will already be in the national system through the various age grade sections. That is obviously a bonus, but in the planning process the individuals have to be the best in their position not only in Ireland, but also comparatively to those in England, France, New Zealand and South Africa because ultimately they will come face to face with those individuals in the future.

The Under-20 competitions are always a good guide. They have their own Six Nations and an annual Junior World Cup. If you have made it to that level in Ireland and making an impact, there is every chance the individual will be seen again in the future in the Senior side. That is the pathway and the current crop of U20 players in Ireland are reflective of the high demands being put on the Union in delivering for the future.

One feels there is a need for clubs from Ulster to be competing at Under-20 level against cubs from other Provinces, but perhaps the resources are not there presently. It is an obvious way to develop those in the Academy - just like sevens - and have them playing regular rugby because the All Ireland League is not cutting it in Ulster.

It is a tough process for young aspiring stars. It has just landed on my doorstep with my eldest boy having (and fair play to him) made it into the Sussex development pathway programme to the Harlequins Academy.

The pathway in the RFU is different from the Irish set-up, but the principal is the same, you have to be the best, exceptionally good, to succeed.

And as you can imagine being close to London there is stiff competition for places. He now has three years to develop his skill set and make an impression, the reality of it is of the group he is in, there are a several other groups in the feeder and of 300 boys, probably five or six, if that, will progress to the next phase.

The biggest sin, however, wherever boys are playing rugby is the large number who are lost to the game because they are deemed failures.

And it is not just at the elite level, but right back down to domestic level.

How many of the schoolboys playing in the 1st XVs go on to play club rugby. Indeed, how many of the schoolboys in the other teams go on to play the adult game. Clubs obviously target the ‘cream’ and ignore the rest, not realising that ‘the others’ could be the strength of their club in the years to come.

A player who does not perhaps make it via the pathways, is still a quality player and their skill set will have developed considerably for the best. Just the sort of player you would want to have in your ranks.

The professional game is really cut throat, probably more on the mainland than in Ireland, but it is reflective of the demands required at the top level.

Looking at the domestic game in Ulster, the past week saw some quality rugby with two Danske Bank Schools’ Cup semi-final thrillers and a hugely entertaining and equally dramatic Bank of Ireland Ulster Senior Cup final.

In the schools, Wallace High School defeated holders Methodist College and then Royal School Armagh produced an amazing comeback to win against Royal Belfast Academical Institution.

Refreshingly, although I am sure some will not agree, for the first time since 1994 it will be the first time a Belfast school has not been in the St Patrick’s Day showdown. That is hugely significant as it reflects there is talent out there beyond the city limits!

In the Senior Cup final, City of Armagh made it three in a row as they rallied to score a late try and defeat Ballynahinch in the Kingspan Stadium final.

A high standard of rugby which I was able to see via the live stream was on view.

The Armagh coach Willie Faloon will have seen his stock rise further. A few days earlier he had seen the Royal School into the Schools’ Cup final.

The former Ulster and Connacht player could well see his services sought after at the next level - that again is the pathway for those in the backroom.

Six Nations: Scotland’s shock, but deserved, 28-17 win over France in yesterday’s Six Nations clash has thrown open the title race - some may even look at it as potentially Ireland’s championship to lose.

As it stands, if Ireland were to glean five match points each in their matches with France and Italy they would top the standings by a point. Ireland go to Paris on Saturday, the French now unable to claim a Grand Slam after the loss at Murrayfield but knowing that a victory with a bonus point is required to keep them in the running for the Championship.

Ireland and England both have to play rearranged games against Italy - and it remains to be seen when those will eventually be staged - ensuring the 2020 Championship like 2001 will go on a bit longer than planned.